Valhalla Brewing and Taproom eyes Federal Mills expansion and production up to 500,000 litres per year

Expansion plans have been revealed for a bar which operates out of the CBD and wants to ramp up brewery production to 3000 litres per day.

Scott Hunt from Valhalla Brewing which wants to set up in the Federal Mills at North Geelong.

Valhalla Brewery has submitted plans to set up a taproom and brewery at North Geelong’s historic Federal Mills.

If approved, Valhalla would operate a venue in the Mackey St precinct, opposite the 1915 restaurant.

The brewery, which was named the 2021 Australian International Beer Awards Champion Gypsy Brewer, currently has a taproom in Union St and signed a 15-year lease for the Federal Mills site in August last year.

Plans submitted to City of Greater Geelong state an existing building would be fitted out with brewery equipment, with the operation likely to produce a maximum of 3000 litres of beer per day and 500,000 litres per year.

The application noted the brewery would require up to 10 staff, with three to four staff typically expected to work at thesite at any one time.

“Operational requirements for the proposed brewery will require a maximum of up to 10 staff in with the brewery,” the application noted.

Valhalla Brewing owner and brewer Scott Hunt. Picture: Mike Dugdale

It’s proposed the taproom would occupy the remaining floor space, could host up to 200 patrons and could have live music.

If approved, the brewery would open from midday to 11pm on Monday to Thursday, from midday to 1am from Friday to Saturday and from midday to 9pm on Sunday.

“The minimum amount of parking required on the site to cater for the proposal … (is a) minimum of 81 spaces,” the application read.

“It is submitted that there is sufficient carparking within the common property carparking area exceeding 500 parking spaces to accommodate the proposal and other tenancies within 13-35 Mackey Street.”

The applicant said the proposal would “facilitate complementary land uses within the Federal Mills site which has become an alternative industry and employment precinct”.

“Importantly, the proposal will not impact on the amenity of the area or industrial land uses, nor will it impact on the port environs,” he said.

The proposal is open to public feedback until April 13.

Originally published as Valhalla Brewing and Taproom eyes Federal Mills expansion and production up to 500,000 litres per year